Bow-gun.



115.755,050. 'PATENTED 0555.151005.

- s. L. SAUNDBRS. I

Bow GUN.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 16, 1903.

` projectile.

UNTTED STATES Patented March v141:, 1905.

SAMUEL L. SAUNDERS, OF WINTHROP, MASSACHSETTS.

BOW-GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,050, dated March14, 1905.

Application filed November 16, 1903. Serial No. 181,327.

To a/ZZ whom) it may concern.:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL L. SAUNDERS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Winthrop, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, haveinvented an Improvement inBow- (Jruns, of which the followingdescription, in

connection with the accompanying drawings, y

is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing likeparts.

My invention relates to a bow-gun adapted for use in the projecting ofarrows or other projectiles for any purpose, and also more especiallyadapted for a toy or for use in a parlor game.

The invention resides in several features, includinga constructionwhereby the bow-gun may be folded into small compass for packing orcarrying; a construction of bow whereby a direct pull is obtainedagainst the arrow and whereby pull on either or both parts of the stringmay beincreased or diminished at pleasure; a construct-ion whereby thebow when snapped makes a loud noise or report; a construction wherebythe bowstring during the snapping of the trigger is retained in positionagainst the head of the arrow. or projectile. Each of these featureswill be more fully pointed out, and described in the claims which definethe invention.

Figure 1 is View in perspective of a bowgun embodying the features of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a modiiication of aportion of the bowgun. Fig. 3 is a top plan of the trigger-section ofthe gun. Fig. 4 is an elevation, partially in longitudinal Verticalsection, of the trigger portion of the gun. Fig. 5 is a View in endelevation showing a portion of the trigger mechanism. i

The bow-gun comprises a stock A of usual gun form provided on the upperbarrel portion with a groove a for guiding the arrow or other Two' armsB B are pivotally secured to the barrel of the gun near its end and insuch a manner that they may be folded into position parallel with thebarrel. These arms are maintained in extended position by a cord or wiret, which is detachably connected, as by hooks, with the arms B B andwhich bow is formed in two separate pieces and the string is connectedto the inner ends of the pieces. This allows the string to be nearlyparallel to the barrel of the gun, giving a direct pull uponthe'projectile.

Adjustable clamping means, such as shown at c, are provided for clampingthe bows C to the arms B. By these means the strength of the bows C maybe separately varied as desired. lf it is found that one bow is exertinga stronger pull on the string than the other, the strength of the pullmay be equalized by adjusting the clamping means c. Also if it isdesired to increase or diminish the entire pull upon the string the twoclamping means c may be adjusted as desired. Thus the power of the bowmay be practically varied or adjusted at the desire of the shooter.

Vhen this bow-gun is used as a toy or as a part of a parlor game, it isoften desirable and a source of amusement and delight to the young thatit should imitate as far as possible the report caused by a lirearm. Tosecure this end, the bows C are arranged, as shown in Fig. l, to comeinto contact with the arms B when the bowstring is released. Thereleasing of the bowstring thus causes a sharp and loud report even whenthe strength of the bow is diminished to such an extent by adjustment ofthe clamping means c as to allow its use in the house as a part of agame or toy. When, however, it is desired. that the bow-gun shall beused for shooting and there is no desire to secure the imitation of alirearm by the causing of a report, the arms B B may be constructed, asshown in Fig. 2, with a slot b therethrough to allow of the passage ofthe bows C when the bowstring is released.

The trigger construction, which is shown more in detail in Figs. 3, 4:,and 5, consists of a 'plate D, fastened by screws or other means to thetop of the stock. The trigger proper, E, is pivoted at e to the plate D.The end of the plate D is upturned or has two upward projections d, andslidingly mounted in the end of the plate D between the projections d isthe bow-pin F. This bow-pin is somewhat Y shape, so as to present alower arm surrounded by a spring G, located in the stock of the gun,which serves normally to elevate the bow-pin and so as to present twoupwardlyprojecting arms between which the end of the trigger rests andserves to depress the bow-pin and around which the bowstring passes.This construction allows the arrow or other projectile, the end of whichis shown in Fig. 5 at H, to rest between the'upwardlyprojecting arms ofthe bow pin directly against the bowstring, which bowstring in turnrests upon the projections Z Z of the plate D. It will thus be seen thatwhen the trigger is pulled the bow-pin is depressed against the actionof the spring G and in its depression is guided in a right line, so thatthe bowstring remains immovable upon the projectionsd Z of the plate Dand against the head of the arrow or other projectile H until thebow-pin is entirely depressed, when the string is snapped and the arrowor other projectile shot. Y

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. A bow-gun comprising arms pivotally connected to opposite sides ofthe gun-barrel, means for maintaining said arms in extended position,bows attached at one end to said arms, a bowstring connecting theunattached ends of said bows, and a trigger mechanism.

2. A bow-gun comprising arms pivotally connected to opposite sides ofthe gun-barrel,

means for maintaining said arms in extended position, bows attached attheir outer ends to said arms, a bowstring connecting said bows, and atrigger mechanism.

3. A bow-gun comprising arms pivotally connected to opposite sides ofthe gun-barrel, means for maintaining said arms in extended position,bows adjustably attached at their outer ends to said arms, a bowstringconnecting said bows, and a trigger mechanism.

4. A bow-gun comprising arms extending transversely from opposite sidesof the gunbarrel, bows attached at one end to said arms and arranged tocome into contact at their opposite ends with said arms when sprung,whereby a sharp report is made, a bowstring connecting the unattachedends of said bows, and a trigger mechanism.

5. A bow-gun comprising arms extending transversely from opposite sidesof the gunbarrel, bows attached at their outer ends to the outer ends ofsaid arms and arranged to come into contact at their opposite ends withsaid arms when sprung, whereby a sharp report is made, a bowstringconnecting the unattached ends of said bows, and a trigger mechanism.

6. A bow-gun comprising arms extending transversely from opposite sidesof the gunbarrel, bows attached to said arms, means for varying theeffective length of each bow, whereby the strength of each bow isvaried, a bowstring connecting the unattached ends of said bows, and atrigger mechanism.

7. A bow-gun comprising a barrel provided with a groove to contain andguide a projectile, a bowstring, means for pulling the bowstring to hurlthe projectile, an upwardlyspringpressed Y shaped bow -pin adapted whenelevated tohold the bowstring across the arms of the Y with theprojectile resting therebetween, a trigger for depressing the bow-pin,projections on the gun-barrel adjacent said bow-pin to support andmaintain the position of the bowstring at a fixed distance from thebottom of the barrel-groove during the depression of the bow-pin.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL L. SAUNDERS. Witnesses:

NATHAN HEARD, MABEL PARTELOW.

